August 2015

[Kristie]

John, what is the connection between Trollope's book and Zafon's The Angel's Game?

[John, Moderator]

Nothing. My post had to do with a case where seeing the video first, before reading the book, might be best.

[Kristie]

Got it. ☺

[Jessica]

Finished reading Port Starbird and really enjoyed it. I will post a review sometime today after I get up and have time to write it.

[John, Moderator]

I have removed a post regarding the Scribd service, as there's already a discussion underway in the non-Audible sources folder.

For the time being, discussions regarding Audible Daily Deal are to go under Audible offers; I am strongly considering having a dedicated thread for DD only soon (Daily Deals: Sept. '15).

[Steven]

listening to Kickback a crime thriller written by Damien Boyd darated by Napolian Ryan. enjoyed the first 2 books in this series on kindle but struggling a bit with the narator on this one. he's got a great voice but don't think the material really fits it.

[Donna]

Kristie wrote: "In a rare move for me, I listened to a book for which I've already seen the movie. I'm not one to revisit a story, but I enjoy Chabon's writing, and I barely remembered the movie. [book:Wonder Boys..."

I love Chabon but Wonder Boys never appealed; bought it as an Audible Daily Deal months ago and still haven't read it - glad to hear good things! I somehow ended up with a copy of the DVD too; and of course it's unwatched, languishing in the "I want to read the book first" movie category.

[Donna]

John wrote: "Kristie: I would recommend seeing the video of Anthony Trollope's The Way We Live Now (starring Poirot's David Suchet) BEFORE tackling the novel; that way one has a better understandi..."

John wrote: "Nothing. My post had to do with a case where seeing the video first, before reading the book, might be best."

That's interesting; I wonder how many book/movie pairs fall into that category. I love David Suchet, would love to see him in something beside Poirot.

[Bill (Just a)]

Jurassic Park Michael Crichton

I just finished Jurassic Park. Looks like I have had more than my fair share of SFF lately. It is appropriate as the Hugo Awards are tonight at 10PM. Great book. Great read by Scott Brick. 3.5 rounded to 4.

Prior to this:

Rules of CivilityAmor Towles

I ended up liking this one as well but I wasn't sure starting out. I did like it started but then I wasn't sure where it was going. I guess a 4 for this one as well. I am hesitant because I am inclined to compare this book to "Breakfast at Tiffany's". It isn't as good as that.

[John, Moderator]

I liked the latter better once the focus was on Katy, not Evie and Tinker.

[Bill (Just a)]

John, this is going to be a great book for my MIA daughter. She graduated and took a job in New York. She is still working in NYC and still single. I think she will find this a fit.

I like the focus on Katy as well and I liked Katy. I really liked the time period.

[Kristie]

Donna wrote: "Kristie wrote: "In a rare move for me, I listened to a book for which I've already seen the movie. I'm not one to revisit a story, but I enjoy Chabon's writing, and I barely remembered the movie. [..."

I think I bought it on the same Daily Deal. It's probably not for everyone, but I really like that kind of book.

[Kristie]

I am hesitant because I am inclined to compare this book to "Breakfast at Tiffany's". It isn't as good as that.

Funny, I thought Rules of Civility was better than Breakfast at Tiffany's (which I just listened to this week). I wonder if it was because BaT's was so short...

[Mejix]

Just finishedMy Struggle: Book 1 by Karl Ove Knausgaard. It is deserves all the attention it is getting. The audiobook version is brilliantly read by Edoardo Ballerini. A very very good book. Highly recommend it.

[Jeanie]

I finished Curtsies and Conspiracies by Gail carriger, second in the Finishing School YA steampunk series. I really enjoy this series--bought the third one in the BOGO sale--and think the narration is just right. I must admit the ending to this one became just plain silly, butsince so much else is silly I don't suppose the ending should be any different.

[CatBookMom]

Jeanie wrote: "I finished Curtsies and Conspiracies by Gail carriger, second in the Finishing School YA steampunk series. I really enjoy this series--bought the third one in the BOGO sale--and think the narratio..."

This series is really fun - and yes, silly sometimes. You might also like the Lady of Devices series by Shelley Adina; the first ebook is still free at Amazon, and the audio is W-S at $1.99.

[John, Moderator]

Yesterday, I started a book that I likely would've rejected out of hand, had not a GR friend raved about it: You're Never Weird on the Internet. Curious, I listened to the sample, liking it so much that I bought the book, rather than wait in my library's LONG queue. Felicia Day is naturally hilarious!

[Hunchback Jack]

I've just finished The Cold Commands by Richard K Morgan.

This was a fragmented listen for me. The novel switches POV between three main characters each chapter, and the chapters for each character are episodic, not always revealing the characters new circumstances right away. So I unwittingly repeated chapters on multiple occasions, which added to the listening time and to my confusion.

The last three hours or so I listened to in one session, and that helped greatly. Very enjoyable.

I've started the final novel in the series - The Dark Defiles. All the volumes in the series are read by Simon Vance.

HBJ

[Jeanie]

CatBookMom wrote: "Jeanie wrote: "I finished Curtsies and Conspiracies by Gail carriger, second in the Finishing School YA steampunk series. I really enjoy this series--bought the third one in the BOGO sale--and thi..."

I'll check out the recommendation, thanks!

I'm currently reading the second in another YA steampunk series, The Spiritglass Charade of the Stoker and Holmes series. these are the nieces of Bram Stoker and Sherlock Holmes and certainly don't fit the YA heroine stereotypes.

I'm waiting for the Cinder Spires series--Jim Butcher's steampunk offering coming out the end of September. I'm waiting to see because, for me, a little steampunk is sufficient. But, Jim Butcher... I mean...

[Scott S.]

John wrote: "Yesterday, I started a book that I likely would've rejected out of hand, had not a GR friend raved about it: You're Never Weird on the Internet. Curious, I listened to the sample, l..."

That's funny, I'm in the right opposite situation. I love Felicia Day and pre-ordered the book as soon as I saw it. But now I find myself struggling to enjoy it.

[John, Moderator]

J. wrote: "John wrote: "Yesterday, I started a book that I likely would've rejected out of hand, had not a GR friend raved about it: You're Never Weird on the Internet. Curious, I listened to ..."

I guess you have to be weird yourself to get totally into it. I love the self-deprecating aspect to her sense of humor, including the side comments. I'm twice her age, almost no interest in sci-fi, and wouldn't go to a Comic Con if you paid me, yet I really identify with Felicia.

[Jeanie]

I finished The Spiritglass Charade by Colleen Gleason. It is well narrated even though the voices for the POVs of the two heroines can sometimes be a bit shrill. For an alternative history steampunk series, this is pretty good.

[Kathleen]

There is an Amazon Editor's YA Book Club discussion group on Goodreads, which is rather new. The group chosen by members to read for August is John Green's Paper Towns. It is an OK listen, and now that I've listened to it I have no interest in seeing the movie. I then listened to one of the books not chosen, The Truth About Alice which was terrific. I gave it 4+ stars. It is short, so not really worth a full credit, but I got it from the library. I highly recommend it.

(The other book not selected was The Unlikely Hero of Room 13B. I read it because the library did not have the audio. It was also short and excellent and I highly recommend it too. I also gave it 4+ stars. I probably should have given both 5 stars, but I'm cheap with stars.)

[Story]

Mejix wrote: "Just finishedMy Struggle: Book 1 by Karl Ove Knausgaard. It is deserves all the attention it is getting. The audiobook version is brilliantly read by Edoardo Ballerini. A very very ..."

Great...been wondering about this one.

[Heidi]

Kathleen wrote: "There is an Amazon Editor's YA Book Club discussion group on Goodreads, which is rather new. The group chosen by members to read for August is John Green's Paper Towns. It is an OK listen, and now ..."

I liked the narration for Paper Towns but was so put off by Margo and her obvious mental health issues that I could not love the book as much as I wanted to

[Norma]

Just finished A Sight for Sore Eyes and it was one of the best I've read this year - creepy and sad at the same time. This was a library book, and I'm 75% finished with The Liar which I am enjoying also. I'm next in line for I Am Pilgrim, which is a Mystery book club selection, at the library, so I guess I'll finish up the Liar and take a break until that one comes in. The only thing I don't like about borrowing from the library is that you are on a 2 week time schedule to read.

[Sara]

Once again, I had a very productive weekend! I finished The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo with great narration of Simon Vance, and enjoyed every minute of 16.5 hrs of listening. I also finished Sky of Red Poppies on Kindle, and read 200 pages Orange Is the New Black in print. I also listened The Boy on the Wooden Box and really liked this short non-fiction account of a ten years old during WWII.

[MissSusie]

Finished Queen of Hearts this was another cute addition to the her Royal Spyness series and as always Katherine Kellgrens narration was fabulous.

Now starting A Darker Shade of Magic by V.E. Schwab,narrated by, Steven Crossley thanks to the Ford Audiobook Club I've had this on my TBL list for awhile so I am looking forward to it and Steven Crossley is a new to me narrator and I am already enjoying his narration!

[Heidi]

Sara wrote: "Once again, I had a very productive weekend! I finished The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo with great narration of Simon Vance, and enjoyed every minute of 16.5 hrs of listening. I also..."

Simon Vance made that whole series for me. He was wonderful IMO.

[Jessica]

Finished Port Starbird and What I Was Doing While You Were Breeding on Overdrive. Now getting ready to start A Darker Shade of Magic by V.E. Schwab.

[Fran]

Norma wrote: "Just finished A Sight for Sore Eyes and it was one of the best I've read this year - creepy and sad at the same time. This was a library book, and I'm 75% finished with [book:The Liar..."

I Am Pilgrim won't take two weeks! I really liked it, but the anecdotal background stories sometimes confused me - in other words, I probably wasn't paying as much attention as I should have been. Haha. When I was almost to the end of the book we arrived at our destination and I was living with the cliffhanger for a long weekend with friends at the beach. I'm normally not eager to get in the car to go home, but in this case it made it much more bearable! I thought the narrator did a great job.

[Fran]

I listened to Destroyer Angel narrated by Barbara Rosenblat. This was the first Nevada Barr mystery I've listened to and I was not a fan of the narration - all the way to the end. I didn't think she was a good fit the main character and I've listened to other recordings by her without complaint. Otherwise it exceeded my expectations and is a solid mystery. Just started Everything I Never Told You.

[Jeanie]

I just finished The Pilgrim's Regress by C. S. Lewis and narrated by Simon Vance. This was pure allegory and required close attention to get the meaning or intention of Lewis. it made my brain hurt.
It wasn't necessary to have read The Pilgrim's Progress by Bunyon, but the modern reader may have difficulty holding the mindset necessary for this style of writing. To be honest, Lewis can be difficult to follow in some of his more philosophical apologies for Christianity and this was meant to clarify some of that... meant to, I say, but I think Lewis often had too high an opinion of his reader, or at least of this reader. My brain still hurts.

[Jeanie]

I recently acquired the Wil Wheaton version of Lock In in a sale--having already read the Amber Benson version--and finished it yesterday. It does shift the mental pictures to have a male main character and so I'm glad I've experienced both. This narration wasn't quite as good because Wheaton did very little voice differentiation and so it became difficult to tell who was speaking by voice alone. Otherwise, it was fine.

[Jeanie]

Anyone else out there like me and both looking forward to and dreading tomorrow's release of the next Three Pines Mystery by Louise Penny, The Nature of the Beast? Ralph Coshem's narration was so much a part of my Three Pines experience that I'm afraid I won't find it to be the same place when led there by another voice. RIP Ralph Coshem, you will be missed.

[MissSusie]

Jeanie wrote: "Anyone else out there like me and both looking forward to and dreading tomorrow's release of the next Three Pines Mystery by Louise Penny, The Nature of the Beast? Ralph Coshem's narration was so ..."

I was thinking the same thing today I have listened to them all on audio and I may read this one in paper till I am good and ready to say goodbye to Ralph! I'll listen to the sample though because Louise Penny was also a big fan of Cosham's narration and she said they searched and found a suitable replacement but...

[Sara]

Heidi (Yup. Still here.) wrote: "Sara wrote: "Once again, I had a very productive weekend! I finished The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo with great narration of Simon Vance, and enjoyed every minute of 16.5 hrs of list..."

Can't wait to listen to the other 2 books!

[Hunchback Jack]

I discovered Vance through that series; he was perfect for it. The tone of the writing suited his understated narration style perfectly.

HBJ

[Samantha]

I listened to those Girl Who books as well. It was a good marriage of story and narration.

[Sandy]

Jeanie wrote: "Anyone else out there like me and both looking forward to and dreading tomorrow's release of the next Three Pines Mystery by Louise Penny, The Nature of the Beast? Ralph Coshem's narration was so ..."

I, too, am a bit nervous. Cosham was perfect.

[Doris]

Jeanie wrote: "CatBookMom wrote: "Jeanie wrote: "I finished Curtsies and Conspiracies by Gail carriger, second in the Finishing School YA steampunk series. I really enjoy this series--bought the third one in the..."

What the heck is steampunk?????

[Louise]

Doris wrote: "Jeanie wrote: "CatBookMom wrote: "Jeanie wrote: "I finished Curtsies and Conspiracies by Gail carriger, second in the Finishing School YA steampunk series. I really enjoy this series--bought the t..."

Well, lot's of machines and gadgets and Zeppeliners etc that run on steam. Often it's an alternative history type of stories, like Phoenix Rising.

As Wikipedia writes:
refers to a subgenre of science fiction and sometimes fantasy that incorporates technology and aesthetic designs inspired by 19th-century industrial steam-powered machinery

[Patricia]

I just started Middlemarch by George Eliot somehow I missed reading this sooner, even though I did literature at school and am a Jane Austen fan.
I started it a few months ago, but wasn't in the right frame of mind and I gave up after 30mins, but the time is right now and I'm about 2hrs in (I have the version narrated by Juliet Stevenson) and enjoying it so far.
At 35hrs this will be my longest audiobook to date.

[Fran]

Doris wrote: "Jeanie wrote: "CatBookMom wrote: "Jeanie wrote: "I finished Curtsies and Conspiracies by Gail carriger, second in the Finishing School YA steampunk series. I really enjoy this series--bought the t..."

It's genre-bending science fiction. A mix of industrial technology, fantasy, Victorian era settings (possibly). It's taking the modern and refashioning it with the old. I don't think it is as futuristic as science fiction. That's my armchair description.

[Fran]

Patricia wrote: "I just started Middlemarch by George Eliot somehow I missed reading this sooner, even though I did literature at school and am a Jane Austen fan.
I started it a few months ago, but wa..."

I missed it too. And I enjoyed listening to it just recently. I'm kind of glad I missed some in college. If you like Middlemarch - try Trollope. I only just discovered him and he definitely wasn't on the syllabus at university!

[Jeanie]

I started the new Armande Gamache novel, The Nature of the Beast, now being read by a new narrator. I'm a couple of hours in and can't help feeling bereft. There's no help for it and the new narrator has an impossible task, but the differences are so stark it hurts... the kind of hurt brought on by grief at being reminded of the absence of one who is dear. The narration is a dramatic reading rather than the non-dramatic reading of Coshem--which heightened the drama. The voices are different, the cadences are different, the emphasis of the banter is different, Gamache is forceful and dramatic rather than solid and even. Sigh.

It can't be helped. But I feel the loss of Coshem as if he were an old friend and the replacement only serves to bring his memory back more sharply. In my head I can't help repeating some of the lines from the book in echoes of Coshem's voice and grieving at the loss. It is poignant and even heartbreaking to return to Three Pines and not have its voice whispering through those pines. There is a loss of one of the characters from the book continuing to be mourned as well and this seems an apt opportunity to share my own grief with the characters. Listening is harder than I expected, and yet, there is something familiar and comforting in the storytelling. It is said that a loss is best processed in the context in which it was experienced, so I suppose this will be my version of grief work. Three Pines will never be the same, still, life goes on, even in Three Pines.

[MissSusie]

Jeanie wrote: "I started the new Armande Gamache novel, The Nature of the Beast, now being read by a new narrator. I'm a couple of hours in and can't help feeling bereft. There's no help for it and the new narr..."

I guess I will be reading this one in paper!

[John, Moderator]

Finished the memoir Dirty Chick: Adventures of an Unlikely Farmer yesterday. Author narration was the way to go here, and I think some folks here would get into the story as easily as I did.

[MissSusie]

John wrote: "Finished the memoir Dirty Chick: Adventures of an Unlikely Farmer yesterday. Author narration was the way to go here, and I think some folks here would get into the story as easily ..."

The email I just got about your review on audible cracked me up this was the subject line:
New Review: John S. on Dirty Chick‏

[John, Moderator]

I forgot to mention in my review that there are a few moments where Antonia is somewhat explicit about sex. Good to know that word has spread so quickly!